Reivers Rock and Blues Festival

MARCUS BONFANTI - NOW ON TOUR !!!!!!!!!!!!

KING KING NEW STUDIO ALBUM RELEASED MAY 5th 2015 VIA MANHATON RECORDS. DUE TO PHENOMENAL DEMAND, ALBUM LAUNCH SHOW JUST ANNOUNCED! LONDON JAZZ CAFÉ WEDNESDAY, MAY 6th 2015

WINNERS OF:

BAND OF THE YEAR

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

MALE VOCAL OF THE YEAR

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

DRUMMER OF THE YEARThe wait is over. There’s no denying the buzz surrounding King King’s highly anticipated third studio album, Reaching For The Light. At a time when the shuffled playlist holds sway, along comes nine hot tracks that defy you to press skip. In 2015, “Reaching For The Light” is the main event. Released May 5thon Manhaton Records, this third studio album is set to rubber-stamp King King’s status as the boldest creative force in the game, and dashes the hopes of rivals out to take their crown. “We’re really proud of this album,” says front man Alan Nimmo. “It’s faster, louder, more energetic and more exciting. It’s got the potential to blow the roof off.”Don’t call it a comeback. King King has never been away. Two years may have passed since the Glasgow outfit’s all-conquering second album, Standing In The Shadows, established them as pack-leaders of the British scene, but Alan Nimmo (vocals/guitar), Lindsay Coulson (bass), Wayne Proctor (drums) and Bob Fridzema (keyboards) have barely cooled their heels or left the headlines. “We couldn’t settle with another album that was only as good as Standing In The Shadows,” says Alan. “We’d have got crucified for it. We’ve made a rod for our backs, because now we need something a few steps above. We’re always trying to improve – and I think we’ve managed it.”In 2015, with so many bands seemingly content to settle for transient throwaway pop, Reaching For The Light is real music: an album to soundtrack the good times and soothe you during the bad. Of course, King King will take all the plaudits, sales and awards statuettes you care to sling their way – but that’s not the objective.“We all want to take this band as far as we can,” says Alan. “You want to sell as many albums as possible, and anyone who says they don’t enjoy five-star reviews is lying. But most important is that we’ve got a great album that people can listen to and enjoy. That’s what really matters – and that’s the truth.”

BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS--EASY SKANKING IN BOSTON ’78 / 1ST COMMEMORATIVE RELEASE OUT ON FEBRUARY 17th TO MARK YEAR LONG CELEBRATION OF 70TH BIRTHDAY

Los Angeles, CA – January 6, 2015 – Bob Marley’s 70th birthday year (2015) will include a variety of releases and events to commemorate the legend, his work and iconic impact. Over the course of the year, his legacy will be remembered by new releases of rare and unreleased material as well as fan favorite deluxe editions of his most memorable work. The first release will be available on February 17. BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – EASY SKANKING IN BOSTON ’78, features two historic live shows from Boston’s Music Hall, June 8, 1978. This new and unreleased performance is from the Marley family giving unprecedented access for the first time to their personal material from their private collections and their vaults. The album will be available on blu-ray/cd combo pack as well as dvd/cd and standalone cd versions. Additional newly created animated material will also be a part of this release, marking the first time the family has incorporated this technology into any official Marley releases.

The video footage was shot with a hand-held camera by a fan that Marley allowed to sit right in front of the stage. The result is remarkable imagery that captures Marley from just a few feet away, allowing one to experience the intimacy of his set. While the cinematographer was shooting with film and forced to change rolls of tape, the gaps in the live footage have been augmented with specially created animation over the existing audio. The animation video elements were produced and created by the animation team of S77 whose credits include recent projects for Bruno Mars, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Disney, ESPN and many others. The 46-minute video includes seven of the 13 songs in the full set.

Highlights of the performance include a lively “Jammin’” and “The Heathen,” a song Marley and the band didn’t perform during the second set. The show features them at their most comfortable, truly enjoying themselves in the spotlight, basking in the appreciation of the audience.

Marley, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is notable not only as the man who put reggae on the global map, but, as a statesman in his native Jamaica, he famously brought together the country’s warring factions — symbolized by rival politicians Michael Manley and Edward Siega joining hands on-stage -- during his legendary “One Love Peace Concert” in Kingston, which took place on April 22, 1978, less than six weeks before this Music Hall performance in Boston. It was five years since Marley and the band arrived from Jamaica, with the 1977 release of EXODUS, recorded in London just after an assassination attempt on his life, turned into not just a socio-political statement, but one which included such hits as the title track, “Waiting In Vain” and “One Love,” paving the way for their next release Kaya and a world tour in ’78. Together with his music’s theme of liberation, Marley’s own rags-to-riches story brought inspiration to subjugated people around the world, where he was revered as a larger-than-life leader.

Today, Bob Marley remains one of the 20th century’s most important and influential entertainment icons. Marley’s lifestyle and music continue to inspire new generations as his legacy lives on through his music. In the digital era, he has the second-highest social media following of any posthumous celebrity, with the official Bob Marley Facebook page drawing more than 74 million fans, ranking it among the Top 20 of all Facebook pages and Top 10 among celebrity pages. Marley’s music catalog has sold millions of albums worldwide

Thirty years after its original release, Bob Marley & The Wailers’, LEGEND, shared the top of the charts, holding the No. 5 spot on Billboard’s 200 Album Chart among Maroon 5 (#1), Jeezy (#2), Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack (#3), and Ariana Grande (#4). LEGEND also holds the distinction of being the longest-charting album in the history of Billboard magazine’s Catalog Albums chart and remains the world’s best-selling reggae album. Marley’s accolades include inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1994) and ASCAP Songwriters Hall of Fame (2010), a GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award (2001), multiple entries in the GRAMMY® Hall Of Fame, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2001). For more information visit: bobmarley.com and facebook.com/bobmarley. The set listing for the BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS – EASY SKANKING IN BOSTON ’78 CD:1. Slave Driver2. Burnin' and Lootin3. Them Belly Full4. The Heathen5. Rebel Music6. I Shot the Sheriff7. Easy Skanking8. No Woman, No Cry9. Lively Up Yourself10. Jammin'11. War/No More Trouble12. Get Up Stand Up13. ExodusTRT: 1:15:17 The set listing for the BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS – EASY SKANKING IN BOSTON ’78Blu-Ray/DVD:1. Rebel Music2. I Shot the Sheriff3. No Woman, No Cry4. Lively Up Yourself5. Jamming6. War/No More Trouble7. ExodusTRT approx. 46min

DANI WILDE AND WILL WILDE - UNPLUGGED

The month of April will see two of the UK's finest blues artistes coming together for a European tour in a rare and intima...te unplugged format. The blues siblings Dani Wilde and Will Wilde will be sharing songs from each of their respective new albums as well as visiting material from their extensive back catalogues and songs recorded by their hero’s. Will’s heavy yet soulful blues rock style combined with Dani’s country and gospel tinged approach to the blues presents a show that will take the audience on a musical journey from beginning to end. WILL WILDE

Will Wilde has been a rising star of the international blues scene for many years...

“A big name on the British Blues Scene" (Roots Time)

“Wilde’s live show is "A masterclass of blues harp playing, bar none." (Blues in the North West)

"The Hendrix Of The Harmonica” (Thomas Ruf - Ruf Records)

Wilde picked up his first harmonica at the age of 16 and played it until his lips bled. Weaned on the likes of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Buddy Guy, Wilde grew up steeped in traditional Chicago Blues yet his focus as an artist remains resolutely on the future. Wilde fuses raw blues with rock, soul and funk. He takes what's authentic and powerful about the music he grew up loving and introduces other influences without losing the heart and conviction of the blues.

On his latest album Raw Blues (Rock The Earth Records), Wilde returns to his roots paying homage to the stripped down Chicago blues that first inspired him to play. Raw Blues features Richard Newman on drums (Rory Gallagher, Steve Marriot), Stuart Dixon on guitar (Eddie Floyd, Geno Washington) and Victoria Smith on Bass (Girls with Guitars, Dani Wilde, The Ramonas).

Wilde has been four times nominated in the British Blues Awards for best Harmonica player (2010/2011/2012/2013). He is also recognised for his talents as a blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. As well as headline tours of Europe he has appeared twice on the Legendary Blues Cruise (USA) playing with veterans such as Sherman Robertson, Michael Burks, Earl Thomas and Taj Mahal.

DANI WILDE

Dani Wilde burst onto the International blues scene in 2007 opening for Jools Holland at The Royal Albert Hall and signing to prestigious blues record label Ruf Records.

“The entire audience was silenced and caught in the spell of deep emotion… she won the hearts and souls of everyone in the crowd – outstanding.” Music News Magazine

Since then she has toured extensively (playing up to 250 concerts a year) across the UK, Europe, America, Canada and Africa. Having worked alongside blues and soul royalty from Mike Vernon to Pee Wee Ellis and with four studio albums under her belt, she has indeed earned her reputation as a world-class singer and songwriter. Inspired by Blues, Country and Gospel, Wilde’s music has topped the I-tunes Blues Charts (Number ones in Italy, Austria and Portugal) and the Country music chart’s top 40 placing her alongside the likes of Taylor Swift.

Together, The Wilde’s are two heavyweight singer-songwriters, unleashing the deepest of emotions into all they do. Be prepared for some magical and moving concerts.

MALAYA BLUE UNVEILS NEW BAND PLUS SPECIAL GUEST Appearing with Malaya Blue at The Great British Rock & Blues Festival, Skegness on January 23rd will be the new band plus guest guitarist. Will Johns (guitar) Special guest. Will Johns Band, Fresh Cream.... Trev Turley (bass) British Blues Awards finalist 2014. Formerly Bare Bones Boogie Band. Simon Dring (drums) British Blues Awards winner 2010. Formerly Oli Brown, Billy Walton Band, Guy Pratt. Andy Cooper (keys) Formerly Pete Brutnell, Todd Sharpeville, and Earl Green. Andy Walker (guitar) Formerly Dove & Boweevil, Mojo Preachers. Will Johns will also be appearing with Malaya Blue at Blakeney Harbour Rooms on February 6th, supporting Laurence Jones and at Norwich, The Walnut Tree Shades on February 8th. Malaya says, we have worked hard behind the scenes to put together a band to support the success of the Bourbon Street album and I’m very proud of this line-up. The intention is to play as many gigs and festivals as we can this year. I just want the opportunity to show what we can do to as many people as possible. For enquiries, bookings, interviews email: malayamanagement@talktalk.net www.malayablue.com

ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAMER, AND SIX-TIME GRAMMY WINNER, DR JOHN GOES BACK TO THE SOURCE WITH SKE-DAT-DE-DAT...SPIRIT OF SATCHNew Orleans musical giant pays tribute to fellow Crescent City legend Louis Armstrong with star-studded, divinely-inspired new tribute disc Proper Records / September 1st Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and six-time GRAMMY®-winner Dr. John is New Orleans' most prominent living musical icon. The embodiment of his hometown's freewheeling creative spirit and multiple musical traditions, he's built a visionary, idiosyncratic body of work that's deeply rooted in the Crescent City's myriad blues, R&B, jazz and rock 'n' roll traditions.So it's fitting that Dr. John's new album on Proper Records, Ske-Dat-De-Dat...Spirit of Satch, pays heartfelt tribute to another larger-than-life New Orleans legend: the seminal trumpeter and vocalist Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, whose musical innovations created the template for 20th-century jazz, and whose playful attitude and life-embracing spirit made him a beloved figure whose worldwide appeal transcended music."He's the most famous guy that ever came out of my neighborhood," notes Dr. John. "He became a legend all over, for his trumpet playin' and everything else, and he was the United States' ambassador to the world."Ske-Dat-De-Dat...Spirit of Satch honors Armstrong's musical genius as well as his effervescent personality with 13 classic numbers drawn from various phases of Armstrong's five-decade career, with Dr. John joined by a stellar supporting cast that manages to update the material while maintaining the music's timeless emotional appeal.The subtitle Spirit of Satch is particularly appropriate given the album's birth cycle, which Dr. John says was set into motion when the late Armstrong—whom he'd only met once during his lifetime, in the office of their mutual manager Joe Glaser—came to him in a dream."Louis's spirit came to me and told me to do something, that's how this whole thing started," says Dr. John, who's previously released tribute albums to musical giants Duke Ellington and Johnny Mercer. "Louis told me, 'Take my music and do it your way.' It was the most unexpected thing in the world to me, to have Louis' spirit show up like that, but he gave me a concept of where to roll with it that was spiritually correct. That made me feel very open to try some different things, because I felt that his spirit had ok'ed this record."Prior to making the album, Dr. John honored Satchmo on stage, presenting rapturously received tribute concerts, dubbed "Props to Pops," at New York's Brooklyn Academy of Music in March 2012 and at the Hollywood Bowl in July 2013.In addition to Dr. John's trademark vocals and piano, and backup from some of New Orleans' finest musicians, Ske-Dat-De-Dat...Spirit of Satch features a stellar assortment of guest singers and players. Bonnie Raitt shares the spotlight on a swinging reading of "I've Got the World On A String," Ledisi and the McCrary Sisters lend gospel authority to "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," Anthony Hamilton is featured on a mournful "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child," Shemekia Copeland trades verses with Dr. John on a playful reworking on "Sweet Hunk O' Trash," and the Blind Boys of Alabama lend their powerful voices to "What A Wonderful World" and "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams."Since Ske-Dat-De-Dat...Spirit of Satch is a tribute to the man who popularized the trumpet for a worldwide audience, it's fitting that the project should feature some of today's greatest trumpeters, namely Nicholas Payton (on "What A Wonderful World" and "Gut Bucket Blues"), Terence Blanchard ("Mack the Knife," "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams"), Arturo Sandoval ("Tight Like This," "Memories of You"), Wendell Brunious ("Thats My Home") and James Andrews ("Dippermouth Blues"), along with New Orleans' legendary horn ensemble the Dirty Dozen Brass Band ("When You're Smiling")."The whole thing felt pretty special, and I definitely was in a different zone for this record," says Dr. John, who co-produced the album with his longtime trombonist Sarah Morrow, who also arranged ten of the album's 13 tracks. "I wanted to pull together some of his hits and some of songs he wasn't as well known for, and make them feel fresh and different. Sarah wrote some slammin' charts that kept everything spacious and hip. And everybody played and sang great, and gave it their own spirit."Ske-Dat-De-Dat...Spirit of Satch is the latest achievement in a singular musical history that stretches back to the 1950s, when Dr. John—then still known by his given name, Mac Rebennack—emerged as an in-demand producer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter on New Orleans' studio scene, working for such local labels as Ace, Ron and Ric, collaborating with the likes of James Booker, Earl King, Professor Longhair, Art Neville and Frankie Ford, and scoring the regional solo hit "Storm Warning."In the early '60s, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he played on countless sessions before debuting his flamboyant new musical persona, "Dr. John, The Night Tripper," with his first solo album, 1968's Gris-Gris, which introduced the world to his uniquely eclectic voodoo-funk. In the years since, he has remained a distinctly prolific and powerful force, releasing more than 30 albums of his own while collaborating with a broad array of acts including the Rolling Stones, Sonny and Cher, Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin, Gregg Allman, Mike Bloomfield, Levon Helm, Ringo Starr, Rickie Lee Jones, B.B. King and Christina Aguilera. He also performed in such films as The Last Waltz and Blues Brothers 2000, and pursued a successful two-decade songwriting partnership with legendary tunesmith Doc Pomus.

Dr. John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, and won the most recent of his six GRAMMY® Awards when 2012's Locked Down was voted that year's Best Blues Album.

Touchstone: Live Inside Outside (3 Disc DVD/CD Edition) RELEASE DATE: 28th JulyTOUCHSTONE RELEASE THEIR FIRST EVER 3DISC DVD WITH LIMITED EDITION SIGNED 'OCEANS' EPFurther to the release of their fourth studio album, Oceans Of Time which entered the official UK Rock chart at No.24 in autumn 2013, British progressive rock quintet Touchstone are proud to announce the release of their first official live DVD: Touchstone - Live Inside Outside (3 Disc DVD/CD Edition)The DVD features previously unreleased footage of Touchstone's full set from 2010's High Voltage Festival in London's Victoria Park, as well as the entire set from the last date of the Ocean's Of Time 2013 launch tour at Bilston's Robin 2 venue. Filmed, directed, edited and mixed by Magenta’s Rob Reed, this set features tracks from Oceans Of Time including Contact and Fragments, as well as older classics and crowd favourites such as Corridors and Strange Days. Other additions to the DVD include a behind the scenes 'making of' documentary, which follows the entire creation of Oceans Of Time, from the initial writing sessions to rehearsing and studio recording sessions. This 3 Disc DVD/CD edition set includes an audio CD soundtrack of the Bilston show, mixed by Rob Reed, with packaging and artwork illustrated and designed by Adam Hodgson. The first 500 copies of the DVD will also ship with 1 of 500 Limited Edition signed copies of the Oceans EP, which contains a brand new song 'Suffer The Little Children', plus 4 other previously unreleased tracks. Touchstone - Live: Inside Outside is released July 4 2014 and is available for pre-order now here: http://bit.ly/1mfYtlDUpcoming Tour Dates2014Summer's End Festival, Chepstow - September 26-27-28 (Day TBC)The Borderline, London - December 12The Robin, Bilston - December 142015HRH Prog Festival, Pwllheli North Wales - March 20Links:http://www.touchstonerock.co.ukhttp://www.facebook.com/touchstonerockhttp://www.twitter.com/touchstonerock

Today's the day! Pre-orders are now being taken for my brand spankin' new baby, CATCH MY DRIFT - 'an 11 track, hair-raising declaration of refreshing honesty!' More info and the link to pre-order over on the home page www.cherryleemewis.com

We're very pleased to announce the birth of The Boom Band, a collective of some of the very finest musicians to come out of the British Blues scene in recent times. The band is the brain-child of guitarist Matt Taylor of The Motives and Snowy White Blues Project, and drummer Steve Rushton who you may have seen regularly playing with Imelda May and on Jeff Beck's Rock'n'Roll Party. Matt and Steve did a few gigs together in 2012 and decided to get their own project together. They managed to enlist the services of Jon Amor, Marcus Bonfanti and Mark Butcher on guitars and vocals, Paddy Milner on keys and vocals and Scott Wiber on bass. Yes that's right, four guitarists! There's an album in the can following various sessions during the second half of 2013 and we're hoping to release something by Spring. The material is an eclectic mix, with everybody contributing songs and sharing lead vocal duties. There is in parts a strong flavour of blues, southern rock, country, funk and even a smattering of retro- pop! A first-class collection of tunes which were great fun to record and we're very eager to get them out there for you good people to enjoy. We are releasing a Limited Edition vinyl LP, only 200 copies - available in March but it can be pre-ordered

Jo Harman - Double 'A' single release from Debut Album Labelled last Friday as a 'rising star' by the Daily Mirror, Jo Harman will release a 'double A' side single – Heartstring and Sweet Man Moses - on the Big Chill Label on January 26th 2013 from her universally acclaimed debut album 'Dirt On My Tongue' . Tour dates in support of Jo's 'Dirt on my Tongue Tour' to be announced shortly.(live performance of ) Heartstringhttp://www.3fm.nl/video/show/giel/66310Sweet Man Moseshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYMIi8LyBzM

The back story......Born in London to a working class family who relocated to a remote Devon village, Jo Harman enjoyed an idyllic childhood with her 2 brothers surrounded by a clutch of thatched cottages, an 11th century church, orchard; the stream running along the bottom of the garden defining the boundary of the local cricket green. Horse riding vied with more artistic activities such as classical piano, violin and listening to fathers record collection of Beatles, Cat Stevens and more. By the age of 15 Jo was a grade 8 bassoonist, playing in some of the most prestigious regional youth orchestras. Singing was for fun, mainly reserved for school bands and at by the age of 18 Jo was ready to spread her wings, going to University in London and earning a degree. Within 6 months things changed dramatically when her father died of cancer. Totally disorientated, Jo fled to India for a couple of months where she found herself totally reappraising her life and values and teaching herself guitar as a vehicle for expressing her hurt and confusion.Returning to UK with a new found clarity of purpose Jo enlisted on a years course on contemporary music at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, where her ability as an outstanding vocalist first emerged in earnest. At the age of 24 Jo left the college and her real musical education began as she found herself headhunted by a collective of (renowned) soul musicians looking for a 'Joplinesque' singer. Quickly impressed by her raw talent these same musicians (whose CV's included likes of Beyonce, Dylan, Bowie and more) encouraged Jo to front her own band, with them in it. Though raw, Jo showed a distinct tendency to swim, rather than sink, in the situations thrown at her by her bandmates with early gigs at feted London venues like the 606 and Hideaway where she, and they, recorded a live album, largely as an initial promotional tool. However Jo's fledgling originals career took a sharp bend in the road when, on the basis of hearing a 30 second clip of Jo's voice, Grammy award winning producer (with Sting) Pete Smith signed Jo on a 'mainstream' deal, flying her off to record in some of the worlds best studios. Realising well into the project that she would only really be happy singing her own songs in her own way, Jo released herself from the project determined to follow her own creative instincts which she has done steadfastly since 2011.From a standing start, and without any financial backing or PR budget, Jo proceeded to build a sizeable reputation with her live shows, picking up nigh on 50 international festivals, including prestigious slots at Cheltenham Jazz, Edinburgh Jazz, as well as headlining many, if not most, UK Blues Festivals. In Europe she was selected as one of only 12 (otherwise household named artists) to play the prestigious Parkpop festival, performing to 300,000 people. In March this year, Jo's debut studio album 'Dirt On My Tongue' was self released in a low key manner, generating tens of thousands of pounds of sales from her website alone, despite the absence of any external promotion.Meanwhile, across the channel the head of V2 records (home of Adele, Mumford and Sons etc in BeNeLux) heard the record and, without initially knowing anything about Jo or her set up, he instantly licensed the album. Last month the record entered the Dutch album charts. This month 'Dirt On My Tongue' is 'formally' released on The Big Chill Label in the UK supported by Proper distribution. Significantly the album was launched at The Royal Albert Hall as part of Bluesfest (BBC Radio 2 recorded Jo's performance which they will broadcast) and the story continues...

Crikey! The Hat is beside Himself! And so should you be - not just because you like the exciting idea of two Hats standing next to each other – but because, at last, I am able to give you the Inside Leg on the 2014 HebdenBridge Blues Festival....so break out the Absinthe, the Stolichnaya and the Laphroaig. This is an absolutely stunning programme of talent. Next year's Festival is set to become The Collectors' Edition. With more bands and solo artists than ever before, a special one-off T-shirt, more innovations, longer performance hours and an unlikely-to-be-repeated themed Sunday night, this is THE one Festival you will boast about in your local hostelry; the one where people will offer you outrageous favours to get their hands on your super hot wristband; the one where people you don't know will want to be your new Best Friend in the hope you can smuggle them in and the one to tell your grandchildren about until they want to leave home and do it themselves. So hold on to your hats, strap yourself in and let's first boggle our eyes at the Main Stage in The Chapel.....You will need to limber up quickly because Friday night's Main Stage line-up is going to lean right off the stage and snatch you clean out of your dancing shoes. First on to get you fired up and locked on in the traditional solo opening spot will be Julian Burdock bringing us his one-man stunning blues guitar extravaganza, loops an' all, Many of you will also know him from his fine singing and guitar work with the much loved 24 Pesos. Oh Yes! Let's start the class with Class!Now you are hot, my friends and to keep the temperature up David Migdenand the Dirty Words are on stage. . New to Hebden, this hard hitting crew absolutely crashed on to everyone's horizon earlier this year when they won the fiercely contested UK Battle of The Bands. Making waves everywhere – funky, soulsy, bluesy, shouty – these guys will hit every taste bud you have. Prepare yourselves.And then come our First Night Headliners – Virgil and The Accelerators. Another coup for the Crew! In huge demand in the UK and in Europe as a result of their terrifying touring schedule, they have told us that they are really pleased to come and join our Hebden Family – and wow, are we pleased to see them. This tight dynamic trio have a massive fan base and you will be mad not to be there boogying in the front row. Playing a jet, turbo, dynamite-powered flavour of blues and rock these guys will peel the paint off the Chapel walls and leave you shouting for more. You will barely have breath at the end of their set – but keep the reserve tank topped up for the usual mad party that is Paddy's Midnight Jam when the stage gets packed with an amazing array of blues people having fun...

Sorry y'all but there is no let up for you in the Chapel on Saturday! Don't be late as first up are the fantastic Blues Boy Kings. This group are becoming Festival Favourites everywhere. Proper grown up original blues with a terrific swing played by talented musicians. Dance Alert – you will be throwing shapes pretty quickly once this band gets rocking!Now Listen. It would be a mistake to go anywhere at this point – as this is when the minor nuclear explosion that is Paul Lamb and The DetroitBreakdown light up the Amps. They take no prisoners as they tear into their hundred mile an hour set. Huge Hit at Hebden last year, Paul, Layla and Joey are coming back to our family stage and once again, will be shaking the rafters.Saturday's Headliners are The Motives featuring Matt Taylor. This is a great catch for the festival. Chased after by bookers absolutely everywhere, this group, who were picked by Robert Cray as his support band last year, are pure class, straight out of the Blues Top Drawer. These four superb musicians attract superlatives whenever they play live and now you will get a chance to see the originators of that brilliant recent debut album that has had the reviewers scrambling for words of adequate praise. Smart, cool, brilliant urban blues, sharp, soulful, original – and that's even before The Hat has added his luminous prose. Cancel everything else. This is where you have to be on Saturday night. Oh, and then there's that Midnight Jam of course!

Well, I did warn you ...Sunday will be Special – so don't even think about going home early. Those Organiser People sure are Smart! The Hebden Sunday is going to be a themed Blues-Rock night – and from start to finish you will be throwing shapes, joining in, leaping up and down, waving imaginary lighters and hugging people you don't know. The Hat will of course be there swaying gently in his Chelsea boots and rattling his Rolex.Two enormous favourites of the Festival are back with us. Both of them, now with huge followings around the country, are tearing their way upwards into the blues stratosphere. Yep – amazing blues rockers Northsyde and Russ Tippins will bring you Sunday on a very hot plate. If you have not seen either of them 'live' then this is a unique opportunity to grab them both and go totally Barmy with the Best.But....but...but wait...even as you arrive, the evening kicks off with two of the best blues rockers around. The tremendous Australian bluesman Gwyn Ashton, taking a break from his constant European touring, will open up the evening with his inimitable steel and strat set and then the Mark Pontin Group takes the stage. Described variously as bringing a new twist to the blues rock genre and an ebullient and soulful breath of fresh air, this young group have already collected an impressive list of playing credits alongside some of the best in the business. Hot.So. I will say that again. Slowly. Sunday...Gwyn Ashton, Mark Pontin Group, Russ Tippins,Northsyde plus theMidnight Jam. Cor Lummy Guv! Sunday night is a whole award winning UK Festival on its own. No wonder The Hat is beside himself. But Wait.... I've only just got going...“Hebden Packed with Crazed Acoustic And Electric Blues Fans....Non Stop Top Music....Hours Extended To Cope With Demand....Caterers on Emergency Standby!”Once again, right across the three days of the HebFest the two stages at Salem Mill – The Electric and The Acoustic play host to some of the best talents the British Blues world can offer. To help their ever growing family of supporters this year the organisers have arranged to open the afternoon sessions an hour earlier at 1pm. As a result, oh lucky people, we can see more – young acts nervously taking their first few public steps, well-established artists making time to play to an appreciative and very smart audience and some Festival Favourites coming back home to party with The Family. – but here is a lip-smacking taster of the goodies that the Organisers have provided for you: - *The Electric Stage plays host to: The Marcus Lazarus Band; Tom Attah and The Bad Mad Clan; Tim Hood; Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion; Katie Bradley; The Mustangs; and The Nat Martin Band.*The Acoustic Stage plays host to Jack Broadbent; Dave Arcari; Angelo Palladino; Wooden Horse; Red Dirt Skinners; Matt Woosey; and Dan Burnett.*The Outlaw Stage (special exciting Saturday afternoon sessions in The Chapel): Forty 4; The Bare Bones Boogie Band; and Makuini.*Once again the Organisers were besieged by hugely talented bands who wanted to play at any of the incredibly popular Juke Joints scattered around the Festival. The talent that packs these half dozen venues is worthy of another free festival on its own – and sadly it is impossible to include everyone.If you want to catch any of these class acts – and remember entry is Free – here is the first list of some of the bands in that great line up:- The Bonny Mac Band; The Tom Gee Band; Private Dicks; Jeds Blues Band; Lewis Hamilton; Killer Bees; Greasy Slicks; and Jed Thomas.No need to bring your hiking boots – all these venues are within walking distance of each other and the main stages – and you can stop off and have a bite to eat in one of Hebden's super cool feeding stations.

Well, my friends, it has been fun being the messenger bearing such good news – but nowhere near as much fun as it will be for those three days next year at the 2014 Hebden Bridge Blues Festival! I will of course be back to tell you more. This Festival is Small But Beautifully Formed...(just like The Hat really)...but (unlike The Hat) it won't cost a fortune... Tell your friends. Book the tickets. Go now. Go. Go Now.

HUMBLE PIE’S ROCKIN’ THE FILLMORE COMING FROM UNIVERSAL MUSIC AS A FOUR-DISC SET ON OCTOBER 28One of the world’s greatest live albums is now four times greater. Mixed under the supervision of members Peter Frampton and Jerry Shirley.

When Steve Marriott left the Small Faces (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2012) to launch a new band in 1968, expectations were high. Marriott teamed with 18-year-old guitarist Peter Frampton, already a U.K. star through his work with The Herd, along with bassist Greg Ridley from Spooky Tooth, and 17-year-old drummer Jerry Shirley, who Steve Marriott had used as a session player for Andrew Loog Oldham’s Immediate Record Label. Humble Pie recorded four albums and several singles before achieving its U.S. breakthrough with 1971’s double-live set Performance: Rockin’ the Fillmore.Drawn from four shows played over two consecutive nights at Bill Graham’s legendary Fillmore East, Performance captured a red-hot band firing on all cylinders, distilling the crowd-pleasing heavy blues-rock style that had come to dominate the Brit foursome’s repertoire, and which would help to lay the foundation for the sound that would soon become known as heavy metal. Performance caught on in a big way with American listeners, hitting #21 on the U.S. album chart and becoming the Pie’s first Gold album.Now, for the first time, Omnivore Recordings, in conjunction with Universal Music, have gathered all four shows from Humble Pie’s historic Fillmore East stand in this lovingly packaged four-CD box set. No editing or resequencing took place — just the four sets exactly as they were played on May 28 and 29, 1971. The seven tracks that comprised the original album are joined here by 15 previously unissued performances — including the never-before-heard complete first set from May 28. “My God, it just took my breath away,” Shirley said of hearing the new mixes by engineer Ashley Shepherd. “You feel like you’re sitting in the Fillmore East, five or six rows back. In the quiet bits, you could hear a pin drop, and in the loud bits, you can almost feel the room shaking. And all four shows caught Steve at the absolute zenith of his powers. It’s astonishing. I’m only sorry that he, Greg, and Dee aren’t around to enjoy it with the rest of us.”Frampton also praises the vastly improved audio quality, and was especially happy to revisit the material that wasn’t used on the original LP. “It’s like a breath of fresh air after listening to one particular version,” he says. “The beauty of it is that you get three other completely different performances of most of the songs. And it’s great to hear Steve’s banter from all of the shows. We’ve lived with [imitates Marriott] 'It’s really been a gas!’ for 40-odd years, and now there’s more.”

The deluxe compilation was produced by Frampton and Shirley with A&R coordination from Bill Levenson and Cheryl Pawelski containing detailed liner notes by Tim Cohan. The original engineer was multi-Grammy Award winner Eddie Kramer.

"PLAY THE GAME"Hello,Brothers Groove are very excited to give you this opportunity to purchase their first studio album, before its official release date at the end of 2013. The album was recorded at "Superfly Studios", produced by Wayne Proctor and engineered by Andy Banfield. It was mixed by Steve Wright and Wayne Proctor at "Y Dream Studios" in Wales and the final mastering has been carried out by Jon Astley at "Close To The Edge Mastering". Jon has mastered albums for Led Zeppelin, The Who, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, the list goes on and on and now includes Brothers Groove.We have a limited stock of "PLAY THE GAME" available NOW, pre the official release date and, in order for you to receive a copy we have set up a special purchase web address.Please click below or go to:www.ziggybespoke.co.uk/BrothersGroove.htm"OCTOBER GIGS"12 October: The Citadel. St. Helens (with Chantel McGregor)13 October. Farmers Festival, Driffield Showground, Driffield. (with Peter Andre)19 October: The Stables. Milton Keynes24 October: 'Round Midnight. London ** 26 October: Epic. Norwich (with Dr. Feelgood) ** If you are coming to this gig, we would be VERY grateful if you could buy your tickets through us (it helps us get paid!!)How to pay for Dr Feelgood with Brothers Groove tickets: 1. PAYPAL make payment to nigemellor@hotmail.com Reference: Dr Feelgood2. If you are NOT on Paypal please email tgbrown@tgbrown.fsnet.co.uk for further details.

N.B. We will either post tickets to you or have them at the door this will depend on when they are ordered (and your preference)

Dani Wilde, Ruf Records/Br​i-Tone Records

My new single entitled "Loving You" was released digitally worldwide on July 16th 2013. This is available from I-Tunes, Amazon and all other big download stores.Last month I achieved my 3rd 'Number 1' in the I-Tunes Blues Download Chart; I have now achieved Number 1 positions in Austria, Italy and Portugal. "Loving You" blends my influences of Blues,Country, Soul and Gospel."Loving You" is a live recording from 'The Sacrebleu Sessions' composed and performed by Dani Wilde (Guitar and vocals) featuring Stuart Dixon on 2nd guitar and Will Wilde on Harmonica. The track was engineered by Stuart Dixon (Big Noise Studios) and mastered by Damon Sawyer (Platform Studio). The single will be followed up by an album in Winter 2013http://www.daniwilde.com/